WinterStorm

WinterStorm is a music festival held annually in the seaside town of Troon, South Ayrshire.

History

Since 2016 it has been held in Troon Town Hall, a location that overlooks the beach and the Firth of Clyde. The event is split over two stages, the Main Stage hosts the headline acts in the Concert Hall, it has a capacity of 600 standing plus 250 seated upstairs. The second stage, known as the Sessions Stage, has a capacity of 160 and hosts up and coming bands and artists as well as an acoustic event on the Sunday following WinterStorm; known as After the 'Storm. StormBreakers, a Battle of the Bands type event, has been held to give acts a chance to win a place on the Sessions Stage.
WinterStorm was conceived by Ian McCaig who is also the Festival Director and promoter of South Beach Sessions. South Beach Sessions is an ongoing programme of live music events which have included bands such as Rhino's Revenge, Pat McManus, Big Country, Stiff Little Fingers, Snakecharmer as well as a number of tribute acts.
The volunteer staff that run the event are known as 'StormTroopers. The main stage event is compared by Tom Russell, with Pete K Mally comparing the Sessions Stage.
WinterStorm branded merchandise and catering includes-

WinterStormer Ayrshire Pie - Brownings the Bakers based in Kilmarnock.
WinterStormin Ices - Ayrshire Ice Cream makers The Forum Cafe.
Strathaven Ales WinterStorm Ale Cask Beer.
Winterstorm stick of rock.

The Arran Mountains that can be seen from the Troon venue are the inspiration behind the WinterStorm logo.
Regular features of WinterStorm include-

The WinterStorm Deckchair - a giant 6-foot deckchair available for bands and festival goers to have their photograph taken on.
The WinterStorm Beach Clean - volunteers clean Troon Beach on the morning of the second day. For their efforts they receive a goody bag and a wee dram of whisky.

In November 2019, The Temple of the King Bench was unveiled. It was an original design iron-worked bench installed on the beach promenade. It acts as a memorial for lost musicians and absent friends. The dedication was supported by the Troon Blackrock Pipe Band and Doogie White who played an acoustic version of "The Temple of the King" - whose lyrics are inscribed on the bench "With just one wave of his strong right hand – he's gone to the Temple of the King".
In 2018, WinterStorm launched a charity single. It is a cover of AC/DC’s "It's A Long Way to the Top" featuring 1st Troon Boys Brigade Pipe Band. Side B has a cover "Bad Motor Scooter" a song by Montrose. Musicians that played on the single were Chris Glen, Doogie White and Paul Mcmanus. The organizations to benefit from the single are dementia-based charity Playlist For Life and the See Me project aimed at reducing the stigma of mental health in youths.
At WinterStorm V the Main Stage was officially renamed to the Steve Strange Stage in memory of the Northern Irish music agent, who died on 25 September 2021.

2016 - WinterStorm I

Day 1 – Friday 25 November	Day 2 – Saturday 26 November
FM	Ricky Warwick Fighting Hearts
Toseland	Last In Line
Praying Mantis	Inglorious
Tygers of Pan Tang	The Amorettes
The King Lot	Vega
Concrete Kingdoms	Mason Hill
	Bloodlines
	The Hyena Kill

2017 - WinterStorm II

Day 1 – Friday 24 November	Day 2 – Saturday 25 November
Heavy Pettin’	Glen White McManus
Tyketto	The Quireboys
Bernie Marsden	Graham Bonnet Band
Praying Mantis	DARE
Stone Broken	Tygers of Pan Tang
Attica Rage	Mason Hill
Syteria	Rock Goddess
Bigfoot	Massive Wagons
Till Death Do Us Part	The King Lot
	Anchor Lane
	Black King Cobra

2018 - WinterStorm III

Day 1 – Friday 23 November	Day 2 – Saturday 24 November
GUN	Glen White McManus
Magnum	The Dead Daisies
Sin Dogs	Wayward Sons
Oliver/Dawson Saxon	Geoff Tate's Operation Mindcrime
The New Roses	Girlschool
Anchor Lane	Bernie Torme
Quartz	Eden’s Curse
Departed	No Hot Ashes
Tomorrow is Lost	Trucker Diablo
	Kane’d
	Everyday Heroes

2019 - WinterStorm IV

Day 1 – Friday 29 November	Day 2 – Saturday 30 November
Skid Row	Glen White McManus
FM	Last in Line
Diamond Head	H.E.A.T.
Myke Gray ft Kim Jennett	Uli Jon Roth
Pete Way Band	Tygers of Pan Tang
Those Damn Crows	Praying Mantis
Grand Slam	The Amorettes
Pat McManus Band	The Brink
Outlaw Orchestra	Burnt Out Wreck
	Control the Storm

2020 - WinterStorm V (Cancelled)

WinterStorm V was due to take place on Friday 27th and Saturday 28 November 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announced lineup at the time of postponement was: -

Friday 27th – Saturday 28 November

Beth Blade

Chemia

Daxx & Roxanne

Empyre

King Creature

Nitroville

Rigid Soul

Scarlet Rebels

She Burns Red

Sons of Liberty

Tantura Vultura

Theia

Wildheart

2021 - WinterStorm V

Day 1 – Friday 26 November	Day 2 – Saturday 27 November
GUN	King King
Inglorious	Hardline
Mason Hill	Tribute to Steve Strange
Cats in Space	Alcatrazz
Geordie	Girlschool
Hollowstar	Anchor Lane
Florence Black	Weapon UK
Bad Actress	Chantelle McGregor
	Collateral
	Gin Annie

2022 - WinterStorm VI

Day 1 - Friday 25 November	Day 2 - Saturday 26 November
Edge of Forever	Clann an Drumma
Absolva	Sons of Liberty
Daytime TV	Hardwicke Circus
Sari Schorr	Ashen Reach
Kingdom of Madness: Classic Magnum	Rebecca Downes
Blaze Bayley	Marco Mendoza
Scarlet Rebels	Sunstorm
Eclipse	Vardis
	The Treatment
	Crazy Lixx

Sunday 27 November

Big Country

From The Jam

The Skids

2023 - WinterStorm VII - "Legends and Legacies"

In a change to the usual Friday and Saturday festival format, and After the 'Storm on Sunday, The Legends and Legacies of WinterStorm features the addition of a Thursday night line-up, and will touch on the best of the past seven years.
Bernie Marsden was on the original Saturday line-up, but sadly passed in August 2023. He was replaced by Graham Bonnet and Tyketto.

Day 1 - Thursday 23 November	Day 2 - Friday 24 November	Day 3 - Saturday 25 November



Glasgow
		Chantel McGregor Acoustic

Sunday 26 November

Danny Vaughn

The Nimmo Brothers